Compass Tape Gateway™ Redefines IBM i Backup
Deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or across both, CTG provides the flexibility, reliability, and security that modern enterprises demand.
Compass Tape Gateway™ Redefines IBM i Backup
Hybrid cloud adoption is accelerating, and organizations that run IBM i workloads face increasing pressure to modernize their backup infrastructure. Traditional virtual tape libraries (VTLs) — once the backbone of enterprise data protection — now pose challenges due to their reliance on manual configuration, fragmented tools, and complex maintenance.
Cobalt Iron’s Compass Tape Gateway™ (CTG) redefines the VTL category by delivering a fully automated, software-defined solution as part of the Compass® SaaS data protection platform. It integrates seamlessly with IBM i environments and other enterprise workloads, enabling consistent, policy-driven backup operations across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployments.
Unlike legacy VTLs that function as isolated storage targets, CTG is provisioned in minutes, requires no hardware installation, and is managed entirely by the Compass software. The Compass SaaS-native approach eliminates the need for customers to manage firmware updates, BIOS patches, or operating system maintenance. CTG is always current, secure, and optimized — software delivered as a service, not a product.
With built-in automation, centralized policy control, and support for on-premises, cloud-only, and hybrid deployments, CTG empowers organizations to simplify operations, reduce costs, and enhance cyber resilience.
IBM i Integration: Eliminating the Silo
CTG treats IBM i as a first-class citizen in enterprise data protection. Historically, IBM i systems have been siloed from broader backup strategies, often requiring separate tools, teams, and infrastructure. CTG changes this by integrating IBM i alongside AIX, Linux, Windows, and other platforms within a unified data protection & cyber resiliency framework.
This integration is especially valuable for organizations with hybrid environments. CTG enables consistent protection across all workloads, eliminating the need for specialized skills or isolated systems. It also supports policy-based data sovereignty, allowing customers to restrict replication to specific geographic regions for compliance with regulations like GDPR.
The inclusion of IBM i in the Compass platform reflects a strategic focus on serving an underserved market segment. Many IBM i customers have been forced to rely on outdated or costly VTL solutions, often with limited innovation and high operational overhead. CTG addresses this gap with modern, secure, and cost-effective capabilities.
CTG also supports IBM Cloud PowerVS environments, enabling customers to back up and restore IBM i workloads directly in the cloud. This capability is particularly valuable for organizations migrating from on-premises systems to cloud-based infrastructure, as it provides a seamless path for data protection without requiring siloed hardware or software.
Cybersecurity Built In: Zero Access® and Beyond
CTG is built on Compass’ unique Zero Access® architecture, which replaces common enterprise access points with a robust, automated security infrastructure. Unlike zero trust, which aims to prevent unauthorized access, Zero Access eliminates common logins and access points to the backup environment, including to the operating system, backup server software, backup storage repository, and ancillary tools and databases. In doing so, Compass effectively blocks potential attack vectors and threats.
The Zero Access model also simplifies compliance by removing the need for credential management and access audits. Customers benefit from a hermetically sealed environment that is inherently secure and operationally efficient.
Compass automatically handles all updates, monitoring, and patching to reduce risk and eliminate the need for manual intervention. Security features are embedded throughout the platform, including advanced multi-layer encryption, immutability, ransomware detection, and logical air-gap zones. Customers can access reports on volume usage and system health without needing to configure or maintain separate monitoring tools.
CTG’s cybersecurity posture is designed to meet the needs of regulated industries and high-security environments. It supports multi-party approval frameworks, policy-based governance, and audit-ready reporting — all delivered as part of the Compass SaaS platform.
Policy-Driven Data Sovereignty and Global Deployment Options
CTG supports data sovereignty requirements by allowing customers to define policies that restrict data replication to specific geographic regions. For example, U.K. data can be confined to London and Manchester, while German data remains within Frankfurt and Berlin. This policy-driven approach ensures compliance with regional regulations without requiring manual configuration.
Compass is available in IBM Cloud data centers around the world, including Dallas, Washington, Tokyo, Osaka, Madrid, London, Frankfurt, São Paulo, Toronto, and Montreal. Customers can deploy CTG in any of these regions and replicate data across paired facilities for high availability and disaster recovery. This global reach enables multinational organizations to maintain consistent data protection policies across all locations, while ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
Simple, Predictable Pricing With Built-In Value
CTG is included with the Compass platform at no additional charge. Customers pay only for the stored volume of protected data after deduplication and compression with pricing per gigabyte per month for single-copy retention and/or dual-copy retention.
CTG also supports multi-tenant environments, allowing managed service providers and large enterprises to segment workloads by team, department, or customer — without requiring separate infrastructure. Customers benefit from a single, predictable price for all backup services, including VTL functionality, without hidden fees or complex licensing structures.
This pricing model applies consistently across all supported platforms, including IBM i, AIX, Linux, and Windows. It eliminates the need for separate licensing, hardware purchases, or integration costs, making CTG a cost-effective solution for organizations of all sizes.
Flexible Data Protection for Key IBM i Use Cases
CTG delivers simple, flexible data protection for IBM i environments by supporting a variety of deployment patterns, including:
On-premises backup with cloud-based disaster recovery
Organizations can back up IBM i systems locally and quickly replicate data to the IBM Cloud, enabling direct cloud restores. This eliminates the need for additional hardware and provides rapid recovery in disaster scenarios.
Hybrid replication across multiple data centers
CTG’s built-in support for cross-replication among IBM Cloud, on-premises resources, and other hyperscalers maximizes flexibility for disaster recovery and testing, ensuring data is always secure wherever it’s needed.
Advanced traffic shaping features let users control bandwidth during replication, ensuring backups never disrupt business-critical operations and can be tailored to daily or weekly network usage patterns.
Cloud-only deployments via IBM PowerVS
With seamless migration paths for organizations moving IBM i workloads to the cloud, CTG removes the complexity of separate VTL appliances, specialized training, and challenging integrations — accelerating deployment and reducing administrative overhead.
Through the IBM Cloud Catalog, CTG can be deployed and ready for production in just 15 minutes, requiring no hardware setup or software installation. Users simply answer a few questions, and their environment is provisioned automatically.
Expanding IBM i Support by Future-Proofing Enterprise Backup
Compass reflects a broader vision for enterprise data protection — one that prioritizes simplicity, security, and customer satisfaction. The Compass platform is designed to eliminate operational burdens, reduce costs, and deliver consistent outcomes across diverse environments. Delivered as a true SaaS offering, Compass eliminates the need for customers to manage updates, patches, or infrastructure — freeing IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives.
Moreover, the launch of CTG represents a strategic expansion of Compass’ supported platforms for the IBM ecosystem. The company’s investment in automation, security, and simplicity positions CTG as a transformative solution for enterprise backup. It addresses long-standing pain points in the VTL market and delivers a modern, scalable, and secure platform for protecting IBM i and other workloads. By certifying CTG for IBM i workloads and integrating it into the platform, Compass enables unified data protection across legacy and modern environments.
As organizations continue to adopt hybrid and cloud-first strategies, CTG offers a robust data protection solution that adapts to evolving needs. Whether deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or across both, CTG provides the flexibility, reliability, and security that modern enterprises demand.
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